The meeting began right on time with an
absolutely hideous rendition of the Sertoma Song, but no one
seemed to mind much, since no fine was proposed. After a
very nice lunch, of self-served salad, enchilada pie, rice
and cookies, Pat McKim, made a motion that the newly
designated “Table A,” of young studs (not to be confused
with the old farts of “table one”) receive a $1.00
credit toward future fines. This did not pass. A fine
of $.50 to each member of Table A was proposed by
Tim Pollak, to make them feel welcome, and did pass. D.
Harder passed the coveted Pink Poodle award to “its
rightful owner,” Pat
McKim. Zach Hader introduced his guest, Norm Selby, and
was promptly fined $.25 for not giving much
information about him. Bob Gallagher was introduced as a
guest by Dean Hiss, who should have known better, but I
guess it’s become a tradition given how seldom we see the
man with deep pockets. Rick Jacobus distributed more tickets
for the Feb. 8th D.U. basketball game and will have maps for
$2 parking next meeting. Rich Carlson sent around the 2/20
Country Dinner Playhouse sign-up sheet again, and announced
that there is a Veterans Business Expo. On 2/6 in
Castle Rock presented by the Elks—it’s free. Joe Dowdey
promoted the Freedom Week Luncheon and reminded everyone to
sign up for their selection of entrée. Dick
Laskey reminded all B team members that their turn is up
next week and they need to make up for a $500 loss last
night. Phil Grimm announced that Don Masias has Charity Raffle Tickets, and will be
distributing them next week. Call him if you have
preferences for specific numbers to sell. Tim
Pollak gave his usual announcement of King Soopers and
Tony’s Meats coupons for sale, and also announced for
Promotions Sertoma Club, that St. Patrick’s Day Parade
walkers were needed and boxes for used hearing aid
collections will be available next meeting.

Sertoman
of the Day

Absent

Program

Chairman
Du Jour, Mabe Downey, introduced Barney O’Grady’s man
from the Federal Correctional Institution at Englewood, Mr. Al Smith. After graduating from ConcordCollege in Psychology, Mr. Smith joined the Department of
Prisons and came to Englewood. In the last 10 to 15 years there have been
dramatic changes in the prison population with greatly
increased violence among prisoners and much faster
recidivism when they are released. The Bureau of
Prisons (BOP) is the fastest growing agency in the Federal
Government. Colorado is very important in the BOP,
especially since the new Max in Florence is slated to receive Al Queda detainees from Guantanamo in Cuba. The Englewood facility is faced with local challenges of being ordered
to build a Prairie Dog habitat and move their front entrance
to suit new neighbors. Some prisoners see their
incarceration as “three hots and a cot,” and return
quickly. Other prisoners are more violent, and with drug
money behind them bribery amounts have increased
dramatically. With 50-80 different gangs the BOP monitors
they certainly have their hands full. It costs $22,174 to
house an inmate for a year, but the return to us citizens in
the form of a safer society is clearly worth it. Thank you,
Mr. Smith for your years of dedication to a difficult job,
and for an excellent update on our neighbor to the west.

Guests

Z.
Harder introduced us to his guest, Norm Selby, who is a
Mortgage Broker.

Bob Gallagher
was introduced as a guest by Dean Hiss even though he’s a
member. No fine? I guess that’s because he buys such
expensive lunches.

"The
quality of an individual is reflected in the standards
they set for themselves."

"When
you're green, you're growing; and when you're ripe, you
start to rot."

"What
we have created is a business organization dedicated to
rigid principles."

"It's
easy to have principles when you're rich. The
important thing is to have principles when you're
poor."

"Resistance to tyrants is
obedience to God.
- Thomas Jefferson

Solomon (900s
BCE):
"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every
purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant,
and a time to pluck up that which is planted." [from Ecclesiastes
3:1-2]

-George W. Bush- President of the United States - 2/1/2003

"In the skies today we
saw destruction and tragedy.
Yet farther than we can see there is comfort and hope.
In the words of the prophet Isaiah ,
"Lift your
eyes and look to the heavens.
Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry hosts one by one and calls
them each by name."
Because of His great power and mighty strength,
not one of
them is missing.
The same creator who names the stars also knows
the names of the seven souls we mourn today.
The crew of the shuttle Columbia did not return safely to
Earth;
yet we can pray that all are safely home."